Summer Benefit Concert Raised More Than $1.5 Million for Feinstein Institute
MANHASSET, NY (PRWEB) July 22, 2013 -- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research held its eighth annual summer concert on Wednesday, July 17, at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, NY. Taking center stage to perform for this private benefit was multi-platinum singer and songwriter, Kelly Clarkson, who is also known as the original American Idol.
The Feinstein Institute, the research enterprise of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, has made important discoveries in many therapeutic areas including cancer, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Clarkson was drawn to the Feinstein Institute because of its success in shedding light on what triggers those diseases, which affect millions of Americans.
Emceeing the evening was Good Morning America’s weather anchor, Sam Champion. Champion, who shared his thoughts about the benefit on the Thursday, July 18th edition of Good Morning America, also commented at the event on the record-setting $1.5 million raised and the important work being conducted at the Feinstein Institute. “Your attendance here tonight validates the research already in progress at the Feinstein, and now, more than ever, with reduced government funding, tighter budgets and diminished support from the National Institutes of Health, philanthropy is playing a greater role.”
Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president of the Feinstein Institute, said during the program at the concert, “The mission of the Feinstein Institute is to discover the basis for curing disease…There is no better way to celebrate our progress to date, and to rededicate ourselves to the unfinished work – to completing our journey, to discovering cures – than by coming together with music.”
The evening also included the announcement of the 2013 Fellowship Award being named in honor of Barbara and Donald Zucker, who are long-time supporters of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Ms. Zucker currently serves as the chairwoman of the Feinstein Institute Board of Directors and a trustee of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, while Mr. Zucker serves on the executive committee of health system board of trustees. This year’s fellowship award was presented to Bart Peters, MD, PhD. Dr. Peters is a trainee in the Zucker Hillside Hospital and does research on schizophrenia, a major disease that affects young people in the prime of their lives with devastating and debilitating consequences. His promising work is opening a path for not only a bright future for him, but hope for people with this devastating disease.
About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is home to international scientific leaders in many areas including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, human genetics, pulmonary hypertension, leukemia, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, ranks in the top 5th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers. For more information, visit http://www.FeinsteinInstitute.org.
About Kelly Clarkson
Since bursting onto the music scene 10 years ago, Kelly Clarkson has released 5 studio albums (Thankful, Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted, Stronger), 1 Greatest Hits album, sold over 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the US and has had 10 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. She is the recipient of 3 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 2 Academy of Country Music Awards, 1 Country Music Association Award and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Clarkson’s last studio effort Stronger debuted at #2 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Digital Albums Chart. The album produced the smash singles, “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which marks Kelly’s 9thand 10th Top 10 hit. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for two consecutive weeks (3 weeks total) marking her 3rd #1 on the Hot 100 chart. Kelly spent last summer touring the US and appearing as a mentor on ABC’s Duets as well as a guest mentor for Team Blake on NBC’s The Voice. Clarkson’s Stronger was recently certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A. and won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Clarkson released Greatest Hits – Chapter 1 which features 3 brand new tracks, including current single “People Like Us,” as well as a compilation of some of her greatest hits to date. Kelly recently release her country single, “Tie It Up,” which is currently rising up the Country charts.
Barbara Mlawer, North Shore-LIJ Health System Foundation, http://support.northshorelij.com, 516-465-2557, [email protected]
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